Faced with severe issues regarding human rights, such as prison camps and threats of harsh censorship, many North Koreans choose to become refugees to escape the inhumane totalitarian regime. In 2010, the number of North Korean refugees in South Korea marked 20,000, recording a notable increase from year 2000. On the way to South Korea, North Korean refugees create routes across China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, hoping to reach the mainland alive. However, such journey is not promising – it may involve loss of loved ones, separation from family members, repatriation, and in extreme cases, death. In order to prevent the vicious cycle of such dehumanizing process, light of human rights must be shone upon them.

This is an interesting article about the increasing spread of South Korean TV drama, entertainment shows among the North Korean residents. A British documentary called “Life Inside the Secret State,” directed by James Jones, has captured ordinary citizens of North Korea watching South Korean entertainment shows.

According to this article, more and more North Koreans, after watching South Korean or Western media, are developing feelings of suspicion and dissatisfaction toward the North Korean regime. They are also aware of the freedom that ordinary people have in other countries, such as freedom of press.

Numerous news sources have reported that many North Korean residents have been caught and publicly executed (shot with gun) for watching outside media. The victims include individuals as young as middle school students. According to the press reports, the bodies were shattered into unrecognizable pieces. North Korea should compensate for the lost lives of the people by halting its public execution policy. I hope more documentaries like “Life Inside the Secret State” will be available so that people, aware of such dismal crisis in North Korea, can take action to pressure North Korea to end this humanitarian crisis.

In short, North Korean refugees are special minority absorbed into a population of 47 million in South Korea. As a by-product of the division between the North and South, they have hard time adjusting to South Korean society due to the gap of living standards, cultural differences, and different way of thinking.

Early in their introduction to South Korean society, they have high satisfaction due to incomparable political freedom, economic prosperity, and multifaceted support for settlement from the government and the community. However, as time passes, being forced to face the cold reality of competitive capitalistic society, their satisfaction rate drops significantly. The bigger the exposure, the lesser the satisfaction rate. Can these North Korean refugees stand as major players for unification? I think we should begin by understanding our stations and capabilities objectively and realistically.

▲ North Korean refugees begin at the almost same starting line in the South, but in their adjusting process, they fall roughly into three groups. ⓒ Lee Yun Kyung

Three Groups of North Korean RefugeesNorth Korean refugees begin at the almost same starting line in the South but in their adjusting process, they fall roughly into three groups. The first group of refugees are those who made successful transition either by their academic achievement, as entrepreneurs or securing employments in stable companies. They set their goals to be integrated into the mainstream of the South, grow out of preferential treatments, and realize their social values through education, building capacity and competitiveness; thus exercising positive influence on South Korean society. However, this group seems to be a tiny minority.

The second group are those who belong to and devote themselves to activist groups. They focus and work toward the democratization of the North and deserve some credits. But their unilateral struggle against the North without proper evaluation of their situation, capabilities, and skillful communication with South Korean Society results in poor recognition. Though they began with fanfare, the influence of their organizations dwindles with assertions lacking logic, poor management, and without necessary capabilities and skills.

Presuming to be the spokesperson of North Korean refugees through media before grasping their situations, they have negative influence on the society. Because of the lightness of their rash actions before prudent thinking and careful preparation, they contribute toward negative images of North Korean refugees and hinder their normal growth as freshmen of South Korean society.The third group are those who throw out complaints in spite of receiving support for settlement from South Korean society. They point their fingers to the government for their failure to settle rather than to their lack of efforts. 60.2% of the total refugees do not have jobs and rely on government subsidy for basic livelihood. Some escape to third countries having failed taking root in the South. Quoting the data from the Department of Foreign Relations and Trade, The Korean Daily reported that 1,000 refugees have filed political asylum in Briton since 2004 and 70% of those possessed South Korean citizenship. There were 20 cases of false political asylum and deportation from Norway. According to the Department of Foreign Relations, in Briton and Norway alone, approximately 600 North Korean refugees with South Korean citizenship are stranded.

Three Characteristics of North Korean RefugeesNorth Korean refugees have tendency to overestimate themselves. For example, some demand their licenses acquired from the North to be acknowledged without reevaluation; some criticize South Korean society, self-deceived as if they were admitted to the reputable universities by their own merit, not by preferential treatment. They are unbecoming in the eyes of South Koreans who put out tremendous efforts to get good education and develop capabilities. Some with master’s degree and doctor’s degree who do not command any one foreign language, or cannot write any decent thesis, no doubt they mar the overall image of North Korean refugees.

North Korean refugees are highly self-assertive. South Korean scholars studying the North say, “The higher the position they held in the North, the more self-assertive they are to prevent any meaningful communication.” A staff at a NGO complains that even college students attending South Korean universities self-assert too strongly to communicate; they believe their thinking so absolute that they are not able to engage in conversation. Either out of tragic ignorance that only they know everything about the North or being too confident, they would not acknowledge what others have to say. It is especially true of those so-called intellect from the North.

North Korean refugees are emotional, short-tempered, and have difficulty to distinguish between their personal and official affair. Propaganda machinery of North Korea draws out loyalty to its leaders and the country by stirring up emotions and psyche. Having been brainwashed and raised up in such an environment for decades, North Korean refugees easily betray their feelings and are enraged in trivial matters. One cannot achieve anything led by emotions and rage.

Can North Korean refugees play a key role in unification?Of course, not all North Korean refugees are like that. However, can North Korean refugees with these characteristics stand as agents for unification? North Korean refugees cannot become agents of unification, simply because they are from the North. Whether or not they could become agents of unification will depend on their preparation. When they study and develop capabilities for unification, work hard and are recognized in various areas, then as people who have experienced both societies, they can become agents of unification.

There are quite a number of North Korean refugees who self-proclaimed to be agents of unification. According to them, they can become agents of unification with experience of the North alone. Without efforts and preparation, they would rather remain as a roadblock on the road.In order to overcome it, it is most important to build our capabilities. Without any preparation, there is nothing we can do upon returning to the North when unified. Even if we got education in the North, we’d better study again in the South and be approved our abilities. For democratization and human rights movement, it is imperative to develop our capacities to be able to persuade others with balanced and realistic logical theories and build national consensus.

Next, we have to be self-sufficient financially. We have to let go the idea that the government should and could take total responsibility until we successfully settle down; we have to set the goals, utilize maximum resources given and environment, and strive for economic independence.There is a rising chorus that in the coming general election on April 11, we should elect our own who will represent 23,000 of us. Since he or she will take up the serious responsibility to be the spokesperson for 23,000 North Korean refugees and prepare the way for unification, it has to be someone who has proven qualifications and capabilities. It is high time to elect a North Korean refugee to the Parliament as a symbol of the North Korean refugee community. Excluding minors from 23,000, the number is a little over 10,000, which is too small to have a proportional representation. However, it will be meaningful to have our own voice.

Looking back, some erroneous actions of the senior members of our community resulted in mistrust and rejection of the general population. The time requires the appearance of a leader equipped knowledge and skills. Unconscionable politicians who would not shy away lies and falsehood in order to promote personal gains would cause more harmful consequences. That is why a leader should receive a thorough ethical scrutiny and be tested of competence.

Written by Kim Myung Sung,Executive DirectorUnification Vision Research

The upcoming June 25th marks the 63rd anniversary of the Korean War. This significant, yet horrific event of our history left generations of people with irrevocable agonies and losses. Thus, it is crucial that the deceased are commemorated and remembered for their bravery and sacrifice.

It was June 25, 1950. The first shots were heard on this peaceful Sunday at dawn, as Kim Il-Sung’s North Korean Communist troops invaded South Korea without notice. The surprise attack marked the beginning of the Korean War, which lasted three years from 1950 to 1953. After the North Korean army crossed the 38th border, the U.S. troops, led by General Douglass MacArthur, came to support non-Communist South Korea. With the support of the United Nations, MacArthur aggressively landed on Inchon, crushing the North Korean army. Upon his landing, he also recaptured Seoul; he went even further north, attempting to reunify Korea. The struggle for land between Communist Soviet Union and Anti-Communist American troops continued, even when the peace negotiations began in Kaesong in 1951. The negotiations took place in Panmunjom from 1951 to 1952, as each side refused to compromise. A peace treaty was finally signed in 1953 at Panmunjom, declaring the division between North and South Korea at the 38th parallel. The status of the country, if not worse, was the same as before the tragic war happened.

The ramifications of the war are evident: the separated families, disconnection between North and South, and emerging hostility and distrust. As the war literature and art reflect, the painful memories of war have become ingrained in our culture. It is everyone’s responsibility to remember and preserve the chapter of Korean history that left us with tears, trauma, and resilience for the future.